What Do I Say?

[morostheos]

I have recently decided to give a year in service to the Church through the Regnum Christi co-worker program. Regnum Christi is a lay organization affiliated with the Legionaries of Christ, and as far as I can tell so far, very orthodox and very faithful to the pope. I've been really excited about it, but today I got an email from my uncle who's a priest, warning me about how conservative they are. He equates being conservative with being pre-vatican II. This really is troubling me for two reasons: (1) I would like the blessing of my family in donating a year of my life in service to the Church, and (2) If my uncle doesn't approve, I'm pretty sure most of my extended family won't donate money to help me cover my costs for the year.

I don't know how to respond to his worries. Teaching someone the differences between liberal and conservative, orthodox and unorthodox, pre-vatican II and not taking vatican II too far by experimenting, etc. are things that take lots of time, which I don't really have right now. Plus, since my uncle is a priest, I don't really feel it is my place to teach him about religion. Does anyone have any ideas of how I should approach this topic or what I should say? In general, my family is faithful to the teachings of the Church, but often just don't know any better on many issues that are pushed by unorthodox leaders in their parishes, the media, etc.

Here's what my uncle told me:
[quote]The only thing I found on the net was "Regnum Christi" which is affliliated with the Legionaires of Christ. They are a very, very conservative group that was founded in Mexico in the 30's. Very much pre-Vatican II in their outlook. Be advised and cautious. I've known some peope have spent time with them and they were not at all positive about the experience.

The people who have served our mission in El Salvador have been affiliated with Maryknoll or the Franciscans. Our missionaries get their training from Maryknoll - especially the school at Cochabomba, Bolivia.  Fr. Reidy could give you much more and better information than I can. Drop him an e-mail. Ever think of El Salvador with our team? A young priest and Ursuline Sister from here just went down there in January. You've got one leg up with some Spanish - although you end up learning a lot fast. I'm going down for a visit in September. Would you like to come along?
[/quote]

[homeschoolmom]

...

Edited April 15, 2004 by homeschoolmom

[Iacobus]

It sounds like your uncle truly cares about you and wants you to do mission work but it sounds like he doesn't trust or like Regnum Christi. Read more and pray.

[morostheos]

Thanks for the advice. It's so hard, because I know for a fact that Regnum Christi is not pre-vatican II. Before even joining the organization, I am required to read a book of an interview with the founder "Christ is My Life" (all 285 pages). There have certainly been people who are unhappy with the organization and have had bad experiences, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good group. From looking at the ex-Regnum Christi member sites, most of the things people had problems with seemed like when Regnum Christi refused to compromise the teachings of the magisterium (i.e. women preists, etc.). I just don't know....

Does anyone have any experience with Regnum Christi or the Legionaries that may be helpful?

[marielapin]

As far as I know the Legionnaries of Christ are one of the most grounded and staunchly faithful groups out there. I have heard of only good things from them, nothing "overly traditional" or half schismatic of that sort. Just because you are conservative does not make you a schismatic. I consider myself to be a conservative Catholic but I am completely faithful to the Church. They are [b]not[/b] a group to be wary of if you are wary of the ultra conservative schismatic or near-schismatic groups.



Legionaries of Christ: new order for a new millennium
Peter Westmore

Contents - Feb 2000

Editorial: Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference - Michael Gilchrist
Legionaries of Christ: new order for a new millennium - Peter Westmore
News: The Church Around the World
The comunità: a new form of monastic life for Australia - Peter Westmore
Defending the faith against secularism and relativism - Bishop Kevin Manning
Sydney’s Centre for Thomistic Studies upholds Catholic truth - John Young
Lay teachers: backbone of the Catholic system - Tom Kendell
Tom Monaghan: the tycoon who sold his assets to serve the Church - Patrick Ward
Books: 'Rome Reshaped: Jubilees 1300-2000' by Desmond O’Grady - Michael Daniel (reviewer)
Books: ‘Darkness Visible: A Christian Appraisal of Freemasonry’ by Walton Hannah - Michael Daniel (reviewer)
Books: ‘Hidden Way: The Life and Influence of Almire Pichon’ by Mary Frances Coady - Mary O'Neill (reviewer)
Books: ‘Invisible Crown: A Story of Dorothy von Flue’ by Michael McGrade - Michael Davies (reviewer)
Books: 'A Victorian Convert Quintet' by Michael Clifton - Michael Daniel (reviewer)
Letters: Catholic survey (letter) - Joe Lopez
Letters: Holy buck-passing (letter) - Arthur Negus
Letters: Enneagram (letter) - Fr Reg Smith
Letters: Missing ‘glue’ (letter) - Joseph Taylor
Letters: The Jesuits (letter) - Felix Moore
Letters: Rockhampton (letter) - Franklin J. Wood
Letters: Conflicting views (letter) - Joseph Said
Letters: Abortion (letter) - Patrick V. Healy
Letters: God’s love (letter) - Louise Howell (Dr)
Letters: Persecution (letter) - George F. Simpson
Letters: New women’s magazine Canticle (letter) - Genevieve S. Kineke
Reflection: Private revelations: "Keep to what is countenanced by the Church" - Fr Peter Joseph
After attending the recent World Congress of Families in Geneva, AD2000's publisher, Peter Westmore, visited the headquarters of the Legion of Christ, a relatively new religious order, in Rome. He was shown over the new seminary run by the Legionaries, the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, which can accommodate about 1000 seminarians. This is his report.

At a time when many dioceses in both the West and developing world are suffering from a lack of vocations to the priesthood, the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ - formed less than 60 years ago - has grown to have over 400 priests and over 2000 seminarians and aspirants to the priesthood throughout the world.

The spectacular growth of the Legionaries of Christ is clear evidence of the continued working of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

The Legionaries, who are renowned for their orthodoxy and loyalty to the Holy Father, have just opened a new seminary in Rome, with a capacity of about 1000 students for the priesthood.

Just as the French Revolution was followed by the formation of a number of new religious congregations in Europe, the Legion of Christ was formed in the shadow of the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which led to decades of persecution of the Church.

The founder of the order, Fr Marcial Maciel, was born in Mexico in 1920, during the Cristero rebellion, and entered a seminary in Mexico City in 1936. Five years later, while still a seminarian aged 20, he opened a house of studies for 13 young men, with the support of Bishop Francisco Gonzalez Arias.

Ordained in 1944, Fr Maciel took his first group of seminarians to a Pontifical University in Spain in 1946, to provide them with an adequate formation for their future mission.

In 1950, the Legion opened its first Centre for Higher Studies in Rome, and the first four Legionary priests were ordained in 1952.

From modest beginnings, the Legionaries undertook extensive apostolic work, particularly in Mexico, where they established primary and secondary schools, and other facilities. In 1964, the Anahuac University, directed by Legionaries of Christ, was established in Mexico City.

Later, a seminary was established in Connecticut, in the US, where many students from Latin America, Europe, and even Australia, have studied for the priesthood. Other centres of formation have been established in Western Europe and North and South America.

This phenomenal growth is based on a spirituality in which Jesus Christ is the centre of a Legionary's religious, priestly and apostolic life. They strive to love him in a personal way, imitating him as their only model of holiness.

This fact gives churches conducted by the Legion a somewhat ascetic character, as they have few of the statues which adorn most churches.

At the same time, the Legionaries have a deep filial devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as Mother of the Church. They consecrate their priesthood and apostolic mission to her care. They seek to imitate her virtues: faith, hope, charity, obedience, humility and her co-operation with Christ's plan of redemption.

They seek to love and serve Christ in his Church, the beginning of his Kingdom on earth. Their love of Catholicism brings Legionaries to meditate on the Church in faith, embrace her in obedience, labour for her growth, and make her holy in their lives. They say, "Loving the Church means being in step with the Church, neither ahead nor behind."

[b]Their fidelity to the Church is accompanied by loyalty to the Pope, based on an intense study of his teachings, catechesis, and promotion of his charism of primacy and magisterium.[/b]

They seek to co-operate with all bishops in the promotion of their own diocesan programs.


Father Maciel with Pope John Paul II in 1992
Formation
Legionaries of Christ have a 12 year period of formation before ordination, in which intellectual and personal formation are combined. Students are expected to develop a mature, balanced character, in which the virtues of strength and discipline are balanced by generosity and openness to all.

To achieve this, Legionaries undertake some form of apostolic work throughout their years of formation. This involves catechesis of young people or adults; study circles with university students, workers or professional people; and co-operation in parish pastoral programs, charitable organisations, and similar works.

Their spiritual formation is strongly influenced by the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, but after their second year of philosophy, students spend two or three years in some apostolic work, including Regnum Christi, an apostolic movement founded by Fr Maciel, which includes lay men and women.

Pope John Paul II has recently drawn attention to the works of the new apostolic movements in the Church, and strongly endorsed them.

At a time when the Church in the West is suffering from an acute shortage of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, the Legionaries of Christ offer clear signs of hope for the future. Fr Maciel has expressed the hope that the Legionaries of Christ will play a role in the re-evangelisation of the United States.

[url="http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/2000/feb2000p3_15.html"]http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/2000/feb2000p3_15.html[/url]

[immaculata]

hmm.. I find it kind of funny that your uncle mentioned the Franciscians. I've only heard a little bit about the LC's and RC's from a Franciscian priest, who told me to stay away from them. Maybe friarmatt can help out on this one- do the Franciscians have something against the Legionaries?

[BLAZEr]

Franciscan missionary Service you need to be cautious about. Seriously, be very careful. A friend of mine applied to do service through them, and the discernment weekend was enough to scare him away. He's not a particularly conservative guy but he is orthodox. The way that they talked about women's ordination, homosexuality, and Church authority was troublesome to him. He did a program through his diocese instead.


I hope Friarmatt has some better things to say . . .

[God Conquers]

The only thing you have to worry about going with Regnum Christie is ever coming back! hahaha. I know a few people who went for mission trips with them and then became priests or consecrated women. Hope that doesn't scare ya!

BTW I'd agree with Blazer about Franciscans in SA. Be very cautious. They were the driving force behind Liberation Theology in the 80s.

[God Conquers]

er, especially in El Salvador...

[Seatbelt Blue]

Waitaminute. What's this about the Franciscans? I've been considering joining the Conventual Franciscans. If anyone knows anything PLEASE let me know.

[BLAZEr]

No, there is nothing wrong with the Francsicans in general (other than they need holy friars who desire to be part of Francis' vision for constant reform of the order to be faithful to his rule, but they've always needed that).

The problem is with the Fransican Missionary Services or whatever that big Franciscan inspired missionary thing is. It's kinda liberal.

I only know Capuchin Franciscans and those are the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal [url="http://www.franciscanfriars.com"]http://www.franciscanfriars.com[/url]

But Friar Matt is cool as heck, and he's a conventual, and I hopefully will be meeting him at the Antioch Retreat at the end of the month.

[Angie Alexander]

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I would like to respond to the girl who wrote in that was thinking of being a co-worker. Her uncle that was a priest told her that Regnum Christi was pre- Vat. II. Well, there are two things I would like to convey to her. My daughter is a co-worker for Regnum Christi. She is now giving her 2nd year as a co-worker. It has been a wonderful and spiritually great experience for her. It continues to help her to grow closer to God. Regnum Christi, though alot of bad rumors are being spread about it is a very good organization thru the church. The devil always likes to tear down good things that helps people get closer to God and the church. I highly recommend Regnum Christi and you being a co-worker. Its a wonderful way to start out your life giving to Christ and Gods people. If you would like to talk to my daughter who is a co-worker please let me know. The other thing I would like to say is that there is nothing wrong with pre-vatican II which I am guess ing your uncle is talking about Vat I. Our holy father Pope John Paul II gave permission in 1984 for the Latin Mass Rite I to be said around the world. He acts like there is something wrong with Vat. I. There is nothing wrong with Vat. I. In fact there is alot more reverence for Christ with the Vat. I which our Holy Father Pope Benedict is bringing back to the church of today, Thank God! If your parents will not support you with your co-worker year I know alot of girls have had sponsors pay there way thru. Pray to God and if he wills you to go and be a co-worker, dont let anyone stop you! May God Bless you!

Edited September 8, 2005 by Angie Alexander

[morostheos]

Who is your daughter? I actually ended up choosing to be a coworker and have recently finished giving a year in Chicago.


Oh, btw, welcome to phatmass!!!! You're part of the phamily now!

[Angie Alexander]

[quote name='morostheos' date='Sep 7 2005, 08:47 PM']Who is your daughter?  I actually ended up choosing to be a coworker and have recently finished giving a year in Chicago.
Oh, btw, welcome to phatmass!!!! You're part of the phamily now! 
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My daughters name is Jacqueline Alexander

[Angie Alexander]

[quote name='Angie Alexander' date='Sep 7 2005, 09:11 PM']My daughters name is Jacqueline Alexander
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Are you still a co-worker? How do you like it?